Ru(II)- and Pt(II)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of omega-aryl-1-alkynes. Generation Of carbocationic species from alkynes and transition metal halides and its interception by an aromatic ring.

The treatment of aryl-1-alkynes, such as 4-aryl-1-butyne, 5-aryl-1-pentyne, and 6-aryl-1-hexyne, with catalytic amounts of transition metal chlorides, such as PtCl(2) and RuCl(2)(CO)(3), at 80 degrees C in toluene results in cycloisomerization to give dihydronaphthalenes or dihydrobenzocycloheptenes, in which the cyclization mode is dependent on the length of the tethers. The reaction is limited to substrates containing terminal alkynes. A key step of the reaction is the intramolecular interception by an aromatic ring of the vinylmetal complex 2, which contains a cation center at the beta-position, generated from the electrophilic addition of transition metal halides toward an alkyne. The more electron-rich aryl systems are more reactive.